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Get off the beaten track in this 4×4 Super Jeep day tour into Thorsmork (Þórsmörk), a lushly vegetated mountain valley named after Thor, the Viking God of Thunder. On this tour, you will travel in a highly modified off-road Super Jeep that can cross deep glacial rivers and handle nearly any terrain. Traveling by one of these vehicles is an adventure on its own, and should be on every traveler’s bucket list! We have put together the perfect itinerary for visiting this stunning gem, allowing the nature lover in you to escape the city and take a perfect trip.
* Sights can vary according to the passengers’ fitness and the conditions.
Pickup in Reykjavík or meet at Gljúfrabúi waterfall
We will start our day at your selected pick-up location in Reykjavík, but it’s also possible to be picked up on the way to Seljalandsfoss (Hveragerdi, Selfoss, Hella, and Hvolsvöllur). We will drive towards southeast through the mountain pass of Hellisheiði Plateau towards the south coast of Iceland and make a short stop for a coffee at Hvolsvöllur. Please note that this is the only stop where you can buy lunch and snacks for the day.
If you don’t need a pickup service, you can meet us and join the tour at Seljalandsfoss.
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Now, we’ll turn off the ring road in the direction of Thorsmork and make a stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The breathtakingly beautiful 60 meters tall Seljalandsfoss is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland, and it’s on the list of Iceland’s 10 most photographed natural wonders.
You can walk behind the waterfall on a walking trail for a unique viewing angle. Bringing either a raincoat or a waterproof coat along is highly recommended if you want to walk behind the waterfall, as you will get soaking wet from the pouring water. On a bright and sunny day, there is a chance to see a rainbow in front of the waterfall.
Gígjökull glacier
Next, we’ll make our way toward Þórsmörk, continuing all the way up to Gígjökull, an outlet glacier of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Once a popular glacier for hiking, it retreated significantly after the eruption, and now we can only admire it from a distance.
You can get an idea of the forces at play during the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull that destroyed the agricultural region around it and stopped air traffic in Europe.
Powerful glacial bursts emerged from Gigjokull during the eruption, sending meltwater gushing down and flooding the surrounding landscape. You’ll witness that the eruption’s impact is still very visible in the area.
A Game of Thrones filming location
Next stop will explore a breathtaking canyon, which is just out of this world and one of the filming locations of Game of Thrones. Stakkholtsgjá Canyon is a beautiful natural wonder, a 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long canyon surrounded by 100 meters (330 ft ) high moss-covered cliffs.
Walking to the end of the canyon is one of the most rewarding short hikes in Iceland. This dramatic, towering canyon was the filming location of a scene in Game of Thrones season 7 when Jon Snow leads the team to ambush a pack of wights.
The palagonite cliffs have many interesting and dramatic forms, caves, and narrow and deep ravines. Inside the canyon, there is a small creek, and you will find a dreamlike, beautiful waterfall in a high cave at the end of the track. It’s not just a stunning place; you may think this is one of those places where elves and trolls live. This is one reason why Icelanders have loved and visited this canyon for many years.
Thorsmork, the Valley of Thor
After our walk in the canyon, we will follow our way to deep into Thorsmork, the scenic valley of Thor. This will be the best playground for your super jeep: crossing rivers and handling the rough terrain will be a great adventure. Thorsmork is a natural reserve in a remote area of the southern Icelandic Highlands, nestled between the Myrdalsjokull, Eyjafjallajokull and Tindfjallajokull glaciers, and one of the most favorite location for Icelanders and many travelers.
The valley is a green oasis between the rivers Krossá, Þröngá and Markarfljót with wide vegetation of moss, birchwood, and other small shrubs. This lush green area contrasts dramatically against the black sand desert of the Markarfljót riverbed and the imposing glaciers around it. Locals swear that Thorsmork is one of the most beautiful destinations in Iceland. This is the reason that many Icelanders come here to hike, ride or just relax among the birch trees with their family.
Once we are deep into the Thorsmork valley, you have the opportunity to enjoy the amazing landscape, have lunch and take nice short hikes around the area, and really drink in the beautiful unspoiled nature of Iceland.
Whatever the season, in Thorsmork, you always have a lot of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors in a magnificent landscape that looks like scenes from the Lord of the Rings. Surrounded by ice caps, which shelter the valley below, the weather in Thorsmork is very often much better than in the rest of south Iceland.
A hidden gem
On our way back we will stop at one of our favorite places. Nauthúsagil ravine is a true hidden gem of Iceland’s South Coast. Nauthúsagil’s famed characteristics are the rowan trees growing on the ridges, sometimes horizontally, creating a roof of leaves. We will walk through the narrow ravine and explore its unique, beautiful world. At the end of the ravine, there is an enchanting waterfall waiting for us. The combination of the waterfall and the light from above is unrealistically beautiful.
After an exciting day of exploring the great wonders of the Thorsmork area, we will make our way back out stopping at Hvolsvöllur for a coffee. We will return to Reykjavík around 6 PM approximately.
The following is important information applicable to our super jeep tours. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email or phone; we are here to make your tour exceptional!
Operation:
This tour is operated by Activity Iceland.
Participant Requirement:
This tour requires at least 3 participants for confirmation. If the minimum isn’t met, we will cancel the departure and provide a full refund or the option to rebook another tour.
Pick up:
Please note that Activity Iceland offers pick-up service from authorised pickup points in the Reykjavik downtown area. Unfortunately, we cannot offer pick-up service from Airbnb or private apartments or Keflavik Airport for our tours. If your pick-up location is not on our pick-up list in the booking form, we kindly ask you to locate the closest pick-up point to your accommodation. Our guides might take up to 30 minutes to reach your pick-up point, so please wait patiently for us to arrive. Be prepared and ready to go as much as possible.
Meeting point at Gjlúfrabúi:
If you don’t need a pickup service, you can meet us and join the tour at Gljúfrabúi waterfall.
Booking:
Our day tours are very popular, and we have many days when all available seats are booked out. Please book your tour early to avoid disappointment. You can book this tour online using the booking form or call our office. We typically respond to phone calls from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM GMT – if you do not reach us, please email us, and we will reply to your message as soon as possible.
Prices:
All prices are per person. We accept payment by major credit and debit cards with no additional fees. Gratuities are not included.
Tour itinerary changes:
At all times, your safety is our top priority. You can expect any kind of weather in Iceland. For this reason, the tour itinerary may be subject to changing the sights without notice, or the tour might be cancelled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. If the time changes, we will need your valid mobile phone number so we can contact you and inform you of the time change. Please don’t forget to fill out your phone number on the booking form. If the tour is cancelled, you can receive a full refund or reschedule your tour for another day. We make every effort to avoid any such changes wherever possible.
What to bring:
Since the weather is unpredictable, always bring comfortable outdoor clothes and warm layers, with waterproof and windproof outer layers. Jeans are unsuitable; a waterproof jacket, shoes, and a warm sweater are highly recommended. It’s best to wear waterproof boots. Bring some snacks or a packed lunch. Bring your daily medications if required.
Medical conditions:
Please let us know if you have any allergies or medical conditions that require assistance.
Payment and cancellation:
Full payment is required at the time of booking to secure your place. We require 24 hrs’ notice of cancellation for a refund. Any cancellation made within less than 24 hours before departure will be fully charged.
Authorized Tour Operator and Travel Agency certified by the Icelandic Tourist Board, a proud member of the Icelandia family. Tours offered on this website are sold under the license of Ferðaskrifstofa Kynnisferða.